20 Best Engagement Rings for Every Budget

20 Best Engagement Rings for Every Budget

And for every bride.

By
Rachel Jacoby Zoldan

OK, so you’ve got her father’s blessing and you’re ready to propose. Now comes the hardest part of all: picking out the perfect engagement ring from the millions of engagement rings you’ll find at any store or diamond dealer across the country. Don’t panic—we’re here to help.

If you’re shopping for engagement rings, you just need to ask yourself two questions:

What’s my bride-to-be’s personal style?

How much can I spend?

When you know the answers, you’ve got all of the information you need to know.

Now, if you’re not sure about her style, know that every bride on the planet falls into one of these four categories. Simply choose the one that most sounds like your beloved:

Classic Bride: If she’s obsessed with all things Kate Middleton, Burberry plaid, and clean-lined cashmere sweaters. If her current jewelry consists of a string of pearls and simple diamond studs—nothing more, nothing less. If her hair is always impossibly shiny—literally no strand is ever out of place—and her closet is full of neutral hues, not to mention quite a bit of black, too.

The Bohemian Bride: It’s all peace, love, and good vibes for this bride, who’s considering spending her honeymoon—or at least the first stop of it—at Coachella next year. With a flair for good music, peace and love, and vintage taste, she often styles herself the way a hippie would, but with a 2017 twist. Peasant blouses, maxi dresses, and feathered earrings fill her closet; her makeup is minimal usually—maybe lip balm, but that’s it.

The Glamorous Bride: If she’s super trendy, shops all the time, and prefers her accessories and jewelry to be always blingy, bright, and sparkling.

Modern Bride: The modern bride is the girl who’s always attending the latest art opening—or has all the details about it. Her style choices are minimal—she’d rather repeat simple outfits with eye-catching accessories than constantly switch up her wardrobe. Understandably, she prefers her coffee and cocktails artisanal, never from the well or, god forbid, the drip machine.

Got it? Good. Here are the best engagement rings you can possibly buy, and for every budget:

Engagement Rings Under $1,000

For the Classic Bride

Unquestionably the most iconic setting, this six-prong style—first pioneered by the folks at Tiffany—houses a beautiful half-carat solitaire stone in 14-karat white gold. Bonus: the platinum setting is not only less expensive than gold, but it’s also far less malleable and way harder to destroy.

For the Bohemian Bride

This hexagon has a similarly designed six-pronged style—not unlike the classic Tiffany-style setting above—and features a conflict-free diamond, along with rose gold, white gold, and platinum options for the vintage-style band and setting.

Engagement Rings Under $3,000

For the Classic Bride

If you’ve found yourself lucky enough to score a Kate Middleton-esque wife-to-be—or one who just worships Kate Middleton’s envious, timeless style—put a ring on it with this royal-inspired design that’s a practical dupe to the Princess’s. And for under two grand, those are legit royal savings.

For the Bohemian Bride

Available in 14-kart yellow, white, or rose gold, this leafy design is reminiscent of nature—perfect for the girl who prefers sitting in the park to, let’s say, sitting on the couch. (Bonus points if she loves to hike, too.)

For the Glamorous Bride

Although some may argue that a six-prong setting with a round stone is the most iconic of engagement ring styles, the princess-cut stone has recently made a run as the new front runner. With four prongs and a pave eternity band that glistens, the effect is chic and clean, not glittery or gaudy.

Engagement Rings Under $5,000

For the Classic Bride

This one is a serious stunner—the type that literally will stop people in their tracks. With just a bit of pave detailing and the smallest bit of engraving, this under-one-carat rock suddenly looks way bigger than it really is.

For the Bohemian Bride

While diamonds are of course forever, sometimes the alt bride isn’t too keen on getting a classic engagement ring. If she prefers things off the beaten path, a vintage-inspired setting with a different stone—opal has particularly magical vibes thanks to its holographic-like hue.

For the Glamorous Bride

Fashion girls will be the first to tell you that more diamonds are never a bad thing. Such is the case with this halo setting of a square, Asscher-cut stone and a dual-pronged pave band, which glints even in the dark—proof that you really can propose anywhere.

For the Modern Bride

Similar to the Duchess’s in look, ready-to-wear designer Zac Posen has entered the fine jewelry market—and with extra style to spare. Rather than create a more obvious halo of diamonds with a single band, this ring doubles down with two bands and literal burst of diamonds surrounding an elegant sapphire stone.

Engagement Rings Under $10,000

For the Classic Bride

While platinum and white gold settings are more classic, there have been periods in which a yellow gold band was the standard engagement ring metal of choice. And perhaps nothing is more tastefully showy than side baguettes, which add a hint of glimmer without going full-on sparkle.

For the Bohemian Bride

Why buy one ring when you can buy three? It’s a question designer Anna Sheffield asks—and answers—with her unique twist on the engagement ring-and-wedding band set. Gift her with one when you go down on one knee, then surprise her with the second and third bands before your wedding day, and you’ll guarantee that she’ll fall in love all over again.

For the Glamorous Bride

Glam brides just can’t help themselves when it comes to halo setting styles. If you’ve got a little bit extra cash to spend, up the carat count and the diamond total by flanking this round stone with two smaller ones, the three of which stand for past, present and future.

For the Modern Bride

Considering rose gold is the inescapable color (and ring metal) of the moment, even the most modern of brides—those who swear they’re trend-independent, even—will fall for this 2 carat diamond solitaire. The hefty band design gives the ring a bit of grit, taking away from the traditional style’s preciousness.

Engagement Rings That Are Really, Really Expensive

For the Classic Bride

If you’re gonna go all out, go to Cartier for the most stunning and timeless designs. Take, for example, the pear-shaped solitaire in their 1895 setting, which makes a non-traditionally shaped stone feel forever chic.

For the Bohemian Bride

While art deco and bohemian aren’t two terms often tied together, but here it totally works. This vintage cocktail-style engagement ring is incredibly chic while somehow managing to be chill in spite of its price tag.

For the Modern Bride

Featuring hammered 22K gold metal and a whopping 2.45 carat diamond set in matte platinum, this engagement ring just oozes cool without trying—kind of like that “it girl” she can’t stop talking about. Having both gold- and silver-tone finishes enables this style to be worn with all kinds of jewelry—no stressing over what she already owns required.

For the Glamorous Bride

Originally featured on Kate Hudson in the 2000-something film Bride Wars, the Novo is all kinds of chic, but particularly so when adorned with an emerald-cut canary diamond. Rarer than their white cousins, canary diamonds scream luxury—as we imagine she does, too.

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